Electric fluid-heating apparatus



1929- H. A. DAVIES 1,738,360

ELECTRIC FLUID HEATING APPARATUS I Filed Sept. 12, 1928 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES HAROLD ALLAN DAVIES, OF AL AMEDA, GALIFORN'IA ELECTRIC FLUID-HEATING APPARATUS Application filed September 12, IP28. Serial No. 805,424.

. This invention relates to electric fluid-heating and has for its object to provide an automatic, self-discharging, water-heating apparatus; and furthermore, to provide an electrically-heatable, automatic, two-tank storage apparatus and system.

An object of the present invention is to interrelate between a supply main and a discharge outlet, a reservoir provided with electrical water-heating elements, and having simultaneously-operable means for the simultaneous admission of water and the expellance of trapped air from the reservoir. I Another object is to provide means where-' by boiling water may be automatically e ected from the apparatus under its own pressure while communication with the main supply pipe is shut 0d.

A further object is to provide a sump element from which any sediment collected. within said reservoir will be ejected with the boiling water, thus preventing impairment of the electrical element or the efficient functioning thereof.

Still another object is to provide means whereby incoming water from the main may be so regulatively retarded or acceleratedin its passage through the heating reservoir as to deliver water at any desired degree of temperature to sinks, lavatories, wash-tubs or wherever required, and from a single outlet.

Another object of my invention is to supply a novel reservoir provided with novel electrode elements therein, the reservoir being adapted approximately to conform to the outline of a sink or lavatory so as to fit snuggly thereto, thus presenting a harmonious and pleasing design while afiording a compact construction for conservation of space. A. further object is to provide a detachable base for said reservoir, the base carrying resistance electrode-elements and being provided with a sump below said elements.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this kind, having two inter-communicating reservoirs, one large and one small, the

smallerone being provided with electric heating elements and with means for the direct discharge of hot water therefrom for use when a relatively small quantity of water is required; and means for the inter-circulation of water between both reservoirs whereby the temperature of the water in the larger reservoir'can be raised when greater quantities of hot water are required.

An additional object is to provide a thermostatic control for the regulation of electric energy in relation to said apparatus.

My invention has many other novel and useful objects which will be more fully de- 9 scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, and more fully pointed out in and by the appended claims.

Without desiring to limit niyseli to the precise details illustrated, I have shown three preferred embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of my improved apparatus, taken on the line IIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line l l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic, vertically-elevational and partly sectional view of my invention when embodied in a two-reservoir apparatus, the second form of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic, sectional elevation of the third form of my invention, taken on the line V-V of Fig. '5.

Fig. 5 is a partially diagrammatic, crosssection taken on the line lV-lV of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a detached, enlarged, broken, sectional-elevational view of the details of the electrical heating elements and insulations as they would appear on the line II-II of Fig. 2

Fig. 7 shows an end view of the socketed lock-member.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on the line III'III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the valve seat.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I have illustrated my invention in Figs. 1 and 2 as applied to a lavatory or sink A, to the under-structure of which the reservoir 15 is attached by means of the supporting-duct 3, said duct being provided at the upper end with the faucet or cock 4 which may be formed integral therewith or be removably attached to the duct by the inter-engaging screwthreading 2. The lower end of said duct is screw-threaded externally at 4; for a suitable distance to afford axial adjustment thereon for the supporting-nut 5 the screw-threading 5 being provided internally of the duct 3 to accommodate and afford axial adjustment for the inter-engaging valve seat 6'. The seat 6 being preferably provided with a square socketed opening 7 on the lower .portion there- 'of (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9) for engagement with a turnkey means with which to attain accurate adjustment of said seat with relation to the valve 8 by means of right or left manipulation of said seat, the upper portion of which is ring-like with preferably rounded edges the better to engage with the valve 8 for water-tight connection.

The lock-member 9 is threaded externally for inter-engagement with the internal thread 5, is faced off true above and below in horizontal planes and provided with a central axial perforation 11 of irregular out line and adapted for inter-engagement with a turn-key or other suitable means for locking said member in fixed relation to the lower end of said valve seat.

The valve 8 is carried by the lower end of the valve-stem 10, said stem per se (as well shown in Fig. 1) is centrally disposed within the duct 3 and extends upwardly from the valve seat 6 through the entire apparatus, being provided on the upper end with the handle 13 suitably and removably secured thereto by means of the screw 14. The portion 12 of the stem 10 is of round section and extends downwardly through the packing nut 15 to the threaded portion 16. Said portion being of larger diameter than the stem 10 and of a suitable length to afford space for the quick-acting square thread 17 chased thereon. Said threaded portion 16 engages its counterpart thread .17 in theupper part of the faucet 4, which threaded portion is sufficiently longer than the portion 16 so as to allow the stem 10 adequate up and down adjustment between the valve seat 6 and the washer 18, which washer may be of metal or other suitable material and is adapted to seat up into the packing nut 15 and compress the packing material 19 so as to effect a water-tight joint when said nut is screwed down into the faucet 4 by the inter-engaging thread 20. Y

The hooded portion 21 which extends about the lower part of the faucet 4 (as well shown in elevation in Fig. 1 and in plan in Fig. 10) forms an annular space round the extension of the duct 3' formed by the lower part of said faucet, the series of ports 22 establishing free communication at all times between the duct 3 and the atmosphere thereobviating any liability to explosion of the apparatus due to pent steam.

Now, within the duct 3 at a level just be low the interior upper end of the reservoir B, the stem 10 is suitably p'rovidedwith the valve-element (well shown in Figs. 1 and 8) comprising the cylindrical portion 23 and the flat portion 24, adapted respectively to close or' to open the port 25 accordingly as the valve 8 is correspondingly closed or open,

fluid passage therethrough from the interior of the reservoir B, on. up said duct, through the ports 22 and out to the atmosphere through the faucet opening 4 said seat 6, valve 8 and the perforations 27 and 26 all being disposed at a level well within the sump 28 and below said electrodes by which means said sump and electrodes are washed clean and free of sediment every time boiling water is expelled from the reservoir B. l

The body of the reservoir B is preferably a ihollow truncated cone, although I do not wish to be restricted to that particular shape. The upper part of said reservoir is closed and finished on the top to fit the under-structure of the sink A, however, said upper end is centrally perforated for the downward passage therethrough of the duct 3. At a level adjacent its lower end the outline of said reservoir breaks vertically for a suitable distance in order to have formed on it the screw-threadings 29 for inter-engagement with those of the base 30, said base being 'of circular outline, having the upwardly flanged rim 31 which is internally threaded for inter-engagement with the threads 29 whereby solid abutment is had against the bottom of the reservoir B.

The inner surface of said base is plane save that the preferably inwardly tapering sump 28 extends downwardly from the center thereof. The extreme lower end of said sump being bored to slip over the duct 3 and has the corresponding outer-surface turned down parallel to fit the recessed end 5 of the supporting-nut 5.

The electrical elements I Attached to the inner side of the base and disposed horizontally .therewith are the two disc-like electrode elements 32 and 33 (preferably of carbon) said elements being centrally perforated for admission therethrough, without contacting therewith, of the duct 3 and also suitably counter-bored and drilled respectively to receive the insulating elements 34 and 35 and the binding-post members 36 and 37,-well shown in- Flgs. 2 and 6; said insulatory elements being preferably of orcelain and the post of brass. Post 36 libs a fiat head 38 that contacts with .the upper surface of the electrode 32, as does the post itself with respect to that art of its length which passes therethroug Now, by reference to Fig. 6 the base is suitably drilled to receive the shouldered insulatory elements 39 and 40 respectively. The post 36 has a straight shank suitably threaded to match the binding-nut 41,. said shank passes 'freelythrough the elements 34 and 39 and is of suflicient length to accommodate the insulatory washer 42, outside said base, and anelectric wire 42 secured by the washer 43, and said nut 41, the tightening of which binds the left-hand sides of said electrodes firmly to the base 30.. v

The post 37 has a suitably disposed, rightcylindrical boss' 44 formed thereon and is screw-threaded at both ends to match the binding nuts 45 and 46. The lower shank of commodate the insulatory washer 48 and the binding nut 46. Obviously, the tightening of said nuts 41, 45 and 46 will firmly secure the electrode elements with their respective lead wires 42 and 47 to the base 30 in such manner that whenever said electrodes are submerged in water a highly resistant electrical circuit will be established which will be very efficient for the heating of water either contained in said reservoir or that may be passing therethrough at a regulated rate of speed under control of the valve 8.

The apparatus is assembled by first secur-' go, whereupon the supporting-nut 5 is inter-,

engaged with the screw-threading 4 and screwed up tight, which has the effect of fastening the reservoir B. firmly in position.

Water may now be served through the coupling connection 52, after which, when the wire leads 42 and 47 vare suitably connected with a source of electric energy the apparatus is ready for operation. A

From the position shown in Fig. 1 a movement of the handle 13 in a counter-clockwise direction produces these effects: It raises the valve 8 ofi' the seat 6, exposes the perforations 27 which admits water tothe sump and also opens the port 25 by turning the cylindrical portion 23 away therefrom and presentingthe flat. 24 thereto. As the water rises in the reservoir B the air which would otherwise be trapped in said reservoir and render m invention ino erative, now escapes throng the port 25 which is free to the atmosphere by way of the ports 22 and thecfaucet aperture 4". Cold water will now flow, but if boiling water is needed the handle 13 must be turned clockwise to shut the water oil. The electrodes being new energized the water contained in the reservoir is in a few moments raised to boiling point and automatically discharges itself by the steam pressure generated in said reservoir forcing the water out of said reservoir through the ports 26, thence up to duct- 3 and out through the aperture 4". Should merely warm water be required it ma be obtained by regulation of the handle 13 in either direction.

The second embodiment of my invention I illustrate in Fig.4 as applied to a. kitchen sink with the duct 3 disposed horizontally and havingthe down-pipe 53'leading to the sump 28, the operation of which is similar to that above described relative to the first embodiment. y

In the third embodiment, well shown in Fig. 3, my heating apparatus B is shown interrelated with a secondary reservoir C of larger dimensions. By use of this apparatus and the arrangement thereof small quantities of hot water may be obtained direct from the reservoir B by opening the outlet valve 54 and by closing the valve 55. In this embodiment the electric'circuit energizing the electrodes 32 and 33 is controlled, not by the presence of water closing the circuit when heat is required, but by use of the conventional thermostatic element too well known to need full description, wherein a carbon electrode 56 incased loosely within a copper tube 57 operates a switch by expansion and contraction of said tube, adjustment being had to make and break circuit at a given temperature by the spring 58 rocking a pole-piece 59.

- As shown, cold water is admitted to reservoir C by the supply pipe 60 following the direction of the arrow 61 whenever the valve 55 is closed, being directly admitted to the reservoir B from beneath by the pipe 62, in which case the content of reservoir B only, will be heated instead of simultaneously heat ing the water contained in both said reservoirs B and C, but whenever larger quantities of hot water are needed the water heated in reservoir B may be made to circulate in the path indicated by the arrows 63 by opening the valve 55 I It is believed that theconstruction, operation and advantages of the present invention will now be clearly understood. The three embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail by way of example, since in actual practice they attain the features of advantage set forth as being desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

Numerous changes in the details'of construction, and in the combination and are rangentent of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificin any of its-advantages;

aving thus described my invention, what i I claim as new is 1. In an apparatus of the kind described having a supply pipe, a controllingfaucet and support means therefor, a closed reservoir containing electrical'heating elements suitgably wired for connection with a source of "electrical energy, a central duct passing downwardly through the reservoir establishing fluid connection between said supply, the said reservoir and the faucet, a valve to controlthe flow of fluid through 'the duct, perforate v means in the duct admitting fluid to the reservoir, perforate means to return fluid from the reservoir to the duct and a controlled vent means adapted to liberate trapped air from the reservoir to the duct.

2. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

areservoir having a base removably attached thereto, a sum extending downwardly from said base, sai the lower end of said duct, said end being suitably threaded for interengagement of a supporting nut adapted to secure the reser- V011 tothe support means either with or without tion.

sump being bored to slip on gasket means for water tight connecbetween the binding posts and the source of electrical supply,

5. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

having a duct member carrying an admission valve capable/of depression and elevation by manual rotary manipulation from the outside, a valve seat complemental to said valve, said seat being externally threaded for inter-engagement with an internal thread of said duct whereby elevational adjustment of the seat is attained, said seat being followed by alock-member similarly threaded, irregularlyshaped holes bein provided'inboth the seat and the lock-mem er for turn-key manipulation thereof. a v

In testimony whereof I have'set m hand to this specification this 30th day of ugust,

.. HAROLD ALLAN DAVIES.

3. In an apparatus comprising the elements I element's;

4. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a supply pipe, a controlling faucet and support means therefor, a closed reservoir having a base, a central duct passin downwardly through the reservoir establishing fluid connection between said supply, reservoir and faucet, a valve adapted to control the flow of fluid through the duct, perforate means in the duct admitting fluid to the reser voir, perforate means to return fluid from the reservoir to the duct, a controlled vent means adapted to .liberatetrapped air from the reservoir to the duct, a plurality of flat electrodes disposed horizontally one above another on said base, insulating means between s'aid electrodes, conducting binding posts attached between said insulating means and the base, and wire and switch-connections 

